I merged onto the 5 South out of Orange County, heading towards beautiful San Diego, I looked in the rearview mirror at my reflection, smiling from ear to ear. This trip starts out like any other, on any freeway, until you look west and see the amazing ocean view. You can’t help but smile and get a little giddy, because this is a sign of what’s to come.  Just the mere thought of beautiful beaches, great Mexican food, and the incredible nightlife gave me goose bumps.

As I checked into my hotel in the Gaslamp District, I could feel the excitement in the air.  The weather in San Diego is as warm as Grandma’s apple pie.  It also reminds me of why I chose to live in California.

I started the day by taking a walk around the area in order to check out the scenery.  The people were obviously enjoying their afternoon in the sun, and everyone was absolutely fantastic.  Since it was early, I decided to make the best of the entire day.  I figured I would find a nice place to have an early lunch so that I could play tourist for the rest of the day and also work up a hunger for a nice dinner later in the evening.  I chose Hooters for lunch. The beer was cold, the food was tasty, and the “scenery”left me anticipating the rest of the evening.

After a quick nap, I decided to try something new for dinner.  I found a nice little place called Rock and Baja Lobster, a small California chain specializing in Mexican-style seafood.  I highly recommend their Seafood Skillet Melt—a seafood lover’s dream.  After also eating the warm tortillas, flavored butter, and the chips and salsa, I was in heaven. I recommend the shrimp and lobster bucket as well if you are in the mood for real finger-lickin’-good eats.

Of course I had to then go and check out the local bars, and I was not disappointed.  I had a blast at Altitude Bar, located on the rooftop of the Marriott. Boasting a view of the city and of PETCO Park, Altitude served the drinks just as I like them—strong and cheap.  I decided to end the night by going to the Hard Rock Cafe. I was very impressed with the service, and the ladies said “Yes”when I offered to show them my smooth moves on the dance floor.

In closing, San Diego is a wonderful city—I loved the vibe, the ambience, and the people.  If you need a weekend getaway on the West Coast, I highly suggest that you try San Diego.  It is truly a wonderful city with beautiful beaches, great food, and tons of fun activities, no matter what your taste.

Hasta luego, amigos; see you on the next trip.